Method and apparatus for the production of a cylindrical embossing sheet

ABSTRACT

In a method and an apparatus for the production of a cylindrical embossing sheet that is to be fixed on a rotating clamping cylinder for the manufacture of continuous webs having surface structures, such as holograms, cinegrams, exelgrams, for safety and reliability engineering and decoration purposes, it is provided that the plate-like starting material is bent around an auxiliary implement in particular of cylindrical shape, the diameter of which corresponds approximately to the diameter of the clamping cylinder, with the plate-like starting material being prepared such that, when it is placed around the auxiliary implement, the longitudinal edges butt against each other by a flush joint, and that the plate-like material is fixed in this position, and that the longitudinal edges are then welded together without any gaps by means of a laser.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for the production of a cylindrical embossing sheet to be fixed on a rotating clamping cylinder for the manufacture of continuous webs having surface structures, such as holograms, cinegrams, exelgrams, for safety and reliability engineering and/or surface structures for decoration purposes.

[0003] 2. Background Art

[0004] Conventionally, the plate-like starting material is glued, or otherwise fixed, plainly on the clamping cylinder. The drawback resides in that a gap will form crosswise of the running direction at the edges of the joint of the plates. Frequently, residue of formable substrate (for instance lacquer) deposits in this gap, in particular if duplication takes place into uncrosslinked or wet layers. These deposits negatively affect the finished impression, particularly since they increase continuously in size, this virtually inducing the seam to grow.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] It is an object of the invention to avoid the drawbacks of known methods and to embody a method that can be put into practice efficiently and rapidly, resulting in high-quality duplication of the surface structure.

[0006] According to the invention, this object is attained by the plate-like starting material being bent around an auxiliary implement in particular of cylindrical shape, the diameter of which corresponds approximately to the diameter of the clamping cylinder, wherein the plate-like starting material is prepared such that, when it is placed around the auxiliary implement, the longitudinal edges will butt against each other by a flush joint, and that the plate-like material is fixed in this position, and that the longitudinal edges are then welded together without any gaps by means of a laser. Thus produced, the embossing sheet may then be removed from the auxiliary implement and mounted on a clamping cylinder.

[0007] When tunable lasers are used for the welding job, it is advantageously provided that a smoothing seam is applied on the weld by means of a laser. This smoothing seam does not serve for joining, but exclusively for smoothing the surface of the joining weld produced by the first laser.

[0008] For smoothing this seam, provision can be made additionally or alternatively for a smoothing roll that bears flexibly against the seam.

[0009] For joint edges to be obtained that butt against each other accurately by a flush joint, it is provided that cutting the plate-like material to size is implemented by a cutting laser.

[0010] The embossing sheet thus produced is elastically expansible by compressed air in a manner known per se for being placed on the clamping cylinder; once the compressed air is switched off, the embossing sheet will rest by radial contraction on the cylinder casing of the clamping cylinder.

[0011] By alternative, provision can be made for a shrinking method according to which the clamping cylinder is cooled inwardly for it to contract in the radial direction so that the embossing sheet can be placed on, fitting tightly after subsequent heating.

CONCLUSION

[0012] In conclusion, it can be said that the method according to the invention enables the embossing sheet to be easily and rapidly mounted on a clamping cylinder and to be disassembled without damages, which ensures multiple use of the embossing sheet whenever a change of pattern is needed. Corrections of position are possible due to the fact that the embossing sheet is axially and radially displaceable on the clamping cylinder. Furthermore, no problems arise when several of these embossing sheets have to be mounted on a clamping cylinder. Also, simple correction of position is possible for adjustment to any subsequent printing unit (for instance an engraved cylinder). 

what is claimed is
 1. A method of producing a cylindrical embossing sheet to be fixed on a rotating clamping cylinder for the manufacture of continuous webs having surface structures, such as holograms, cinegrams, exelgrams, for safety and reliability engineering or decoration purposes, wherein the plate-like starting material is bent around an auxiliary implement in particular of cylindrical shape, the diameter of which corresponds approximately to the diameter of the clamping cylinder, with the plate-like starting material being prepared such that, when it is placed around the auxiliary implement, the longitudinal edges butt against each other by a flush joint, and that the plate-like material is fixed in this position, and that the longitudinal edges are welded together without any gaps by a laser.
 2. A method according to claim 1, wherein a smoothing seam is applied to the weld by the laser.
 3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the weld is smoothed by a smoothing roll that is flexibly pressed thereon.
 4. A method according to claim 1, wherein cutting the plate-like material to size is implemented by a cutting laser.
 5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the embossing sheet, which is produced by the longitudinal seams being welded together, is removed from the auxiliary implement and placed on the clamping cylinder.
 6. A method according to claim 4, wherein, for the embossing sheet to be moved into place and positioned, the clamping cylinder comprises compressed-air openings, which are directed radially outwards and through which compressed air is ejected that can be switched off for the embossing sheet to be fixed.
 7. A method according to claim 5, wherein the clamping cylinder is cooled for the embossing sheet to be placed on and positioned.
 8. An apparatus for putting into practice the method of producing a cylindrical embossing sheet to be fixed on a rotating clamping cylinder for the manufacture of continuous webs having surface structures, such as holograms, cinegrams, exelgrams, for safety and reliability engineering or decoration purposes, wherein an implement is provided for bending the plate-like starting material, including devices for fixing the longitudinal edges so that they butt against each other by a flush joint. 